HURIWA praises efforts at protecting Corp Members from terrorists

Oru Leonard 

Prominent pro-democracy and civil Rights Advocacy group: HUMAN RIGHTS WRITERS ASSOCIATION OF NIGERIA (HURIWA) has applauded the decision of the management of the National Youth Service Corps (NYSC) to partner with the military, the Department of State Services and the police to provide fool-proof security to members of the National Youths Service Corps (NYSC).

HURIWA has also commended the Federal Executive Council for excluding hot spots and flashpoints of terrorism from areas whereby corpers are deployed tonserve under the NYSC scheme.

HURIWA said the move to secure the lives of corpers is critical to the continuous relevance of the NYSC just as the Rights group disclosed that the NYSC as a national institution that plays the pivotal and critical role of fostering integration and patriotism amongst the youths of Nigeria, it is therefore heartwarming that the management is doing all that they can to put in place measures to ensure the safety, well-being and welfare of the corpers.

HURIWA recalled that the Sokoto State Coordinator of the National Youth Service Corps, (NYSC) Alhaji Usman Yakubu Yaro , had disclosed that the Service is in touch with the Nigerian Military, the Department of State Service (DSS), the Nigeria Police Force (NPF), and other critical stakeholders to guarantee the safety of corps members deployed to the State for 2024 Batch ‘B’ stream 1 orientation exercise.

Usman made the disclosure yesterday in his office while briefing Journalists in preparation for 2024 Batch ‘B’ Stream 1 orientation exercise, stressing that arrangements have been concluded to ensure the safety and security of corps members posted to the State.

He explained that the service had written to the various sister security agencies, asking them for security in all the routes that corps members utilise to reach their various camps.

“We have met with the General Officer Commanding 8 Division, Commissioner of Police , and head of other security agencies and proper arrangement have been put in place to secure the roads he stated.

“We have put in several measures even before the corps members are deployed to the camp. Before now we held pre orientation camp workshop and all hands are on deck to ensure the success of the orientation exercise.

He further disclosed that the scheme will not post corps members to Eastern Senatorial District of the State where there is security challenges.

“Wherever we deem that a place is not secured, we will not send corps members to serve and we will continue to maintain that. The security of corp members will be guaranteed. For any flashpoint where insecurity is pronounced, we don’t send our corps members there.

Welcoming the disclosure about the continuous improvement in the quality of security and safety provided to the participants of the NYSC as disclosed by the official of the scheme, HURIWA stated that minimising the occurrences of security challenges and threats to the corpers holds the key towards the continuous support by a greater number of Nigerians for the NYSC. HURIWA also applauded the decision of the Federal government to safeguard the lives of corpers by stopping forthwith the posting to dangerous and terrorists infested place for their National Youth Service, participants of the NYSC.

HURIWA recalled that around February of this year, the minister of youths Ms.Jamila Bio-Ibrahim disclosed that the Federal Government has suspended the posting of National Youth Service Corps members to states considered unsafe due to the security challenges in the country. The Rights group said the decision was the best under the present circumstances just as the Rights group expressed optimism that security and stability would be restored all around the Country to allow for the fuller enjoyment of the services rendered by trained young graduates serving their fatherland on the auspices of the NYSC scheme such as medical doctors, Nurses and teachers.

The Minister of Youths Jamila Bio-Ibrahim, said this while featuring on Channels Television’s Sunday Politics.

She said, “As an immediate intervention of the government and the NYSC as an agency, we have actually stopped posting corps members to the very unsafe states.

“We have been doing it in the past. There are states where we have not been posting corps members to ensure their safety.

“When it comes to security matters, it is a multi-sectoral approach. So, it is not the NYSC alone and the ministry that is involved. We are working with security outlets to ensure corps members are safe.

“We are also working on group transportation strategies for them to ensure that they are transported to and from camps safely and to their destinations.”

The minister mentioned a comprehensive review of the remuneration structure, aiming to transform the NYSC into a self-sustaining agency with a focus on preparing corps members for the job market.

“When it comes to remuneration, we are looking at the holistic funding of the NYSC. You are all aware that we have announced a reform of the NYSC scheme itself. We want the scheme to go beyond being a social programme of the government,” she added.